Jeffrey’s review of The Caine Mutiny > Likes and Comments

Good lawsy me, Jeffrey! Do I get a lit-crit college credit for that careful contextualization of book, film, and creators within the cultural matrix of post-WWII Murrika?

Kinda creepy that the actress kept the character's name, though I'm not all the way sure why I'm goosepimply about it.

Richard wrote: "Good lawsy me, Jeffrey! Do I get a lit-crit college credit for that careful contextualization of book, film, and creators within the cultural matrix of post-WWII Murrika?

Kinda creepy that the act..."

Now where did a posh East Coast gentleman such as your self ever hear the term Murrika? haha that is a term not heard much North of the Mason Dixon line. I'm glad the review came together. I always feel like I bite off more than I can chew.

I agree about the actress. In fact that is why I stuck it in the review because I thought it was a really odd factoid.

Thirty-nine cumulative years in Texas is *highly* educational.

This is one of those books that I haven't read precisely because the movie was so good that I'm afraid the book would spoil it. Especially great is the performance of Jose Ferrer as the defense lawyer. Your review may have convinced me that I need to take a look.

Duffy wrote: "This is one of those books that I haven't read precisely because the movie was so good that I'm afraid the book would spoil it. Especially great is the performance of Jose Ferrer as the defense la..."

Thanks Duffy! I'm on the other side of the coin. I want to watch the movie, but the book was so good. I do think I'm going to wait a few months before watching the movie.

Sullivan, rolling his pair of ball bearings, wondering who stole the damn strawberries. Excellent review. THE WWII list should include "The Naked and the Dead," "The Young Lions," John Hersey's "Into the Valley," and "Hiroshima." You gotta hit "The Cruel Sea." And everything that James Jones wrote. Everything. "Catch-22." And deciding which ones not to read is a real Catch-22. There is also a sequel to "A Separate Peace (your review was excellent by the way) that you would love as a follow up. That is all. Tonight's movie is "Run Silent, Run Deep." Oh, yeah, you need to throw that one in, too. That is all until I undoubtedly remember more. *Koff*

Mike wrote: "Sullivan, rolling his pair of ball bearings, wondering who stole the damn strawberries. Excellent review. THE WWII list should include "The Naked and the Dead," "The Young Lions," John Hersey's "..."

I've read The Naked and the Dead and Catch-22 though I feel 22 needs a reread. I've added the rest to my reading list. Thanks friend. I am so glad you liked this review and my "A Separate Peace" review. It means a lot knowing a pro like you sees merit in my reviews. I think these old 1950s war novels are going to be a helluva a lot of fun.

Jeffrey wrote: "Mike wrote: "Sullivan, rolling his pair of ball bearings, wondering who stole the damn strawberries. Excellent review. THE WWII list should include "The Naked and the Dead," "The Young Lions," Jo..."

You know something? It's been so many years since I read these, I don't believe I've even listed them as a part of my shelves. If I were called upon to write a review of any one of them right now, I couldn't do it. But I know that each one of them made a powerful impression on me when I originally read them. The interesting thing about them, with the exception of "Catch-22," perhaps is how different in tone they are from the literature produced by the Vietnam War. Oh, yes, you will find elements of irony and futility and men like Queeg, but there is an overwhelming sense of we went to a war without question, without cynicism, and as Studs Terkel correctly said, it was "The Good War," if it is possible to ever call war such a thing.

Great Review, Jeffrey. I read Caine Mutiny in the 11th Grade after I had already discovered The Winds of Warand War and Remembrance .Wouk books were like Michener for those who love WWII. I enjoyed the perspective of Wouk on professional officers who are there in times of war and in times of peace. I think the ending challenged some of my persepctives. I also recommend .Once An Eaglefor people who like books that are on reading lists for professional military officers.

Steve wrote: "Great Review, Jeffrey. I read Caine Mutiny in the 11th Grade after I had already discovered The Winds of Warand War and Remembrance .Wouk books were like Michener for those who love WWII. I enjoye..."

Thanks Steve! I enjoyed this better than the Michener I read last year. I would bet this is less bloated than his later novels. Thanks for the recommend I haven't heard of that book. I added it to my list. I hope your trip to NYC was a blast.

All those pics seem to be suggesting we see the movie. ;)

StoryTellerShannon wrote: "All those pics seem to be suggesting we see the movie. ;)"

Well I'm sorry that I gave that impression. This site is called goodreads not goodwatching. I haven't seen the movie, but I'm sure it is good. I try to always read a book before I see a movie based on the book. I do like black and white photographs and maybe I put too many in this review obscuring how really good the book is. Any book that makes me think about "what would I do" gets the nod from me.

If you enjoyed the book the movie is certainly worth a look.

Phew, am i out of it! Although i've heard of the Caine mutiny, i haven't read the book or seen the movie!

I was also going to add the Cruel Sea as a suggestion, please be a luv and read it soon so you can tell me all about it? :D

Wonderful review as usual. Lots of work in there.

Traveller wrote: "Phew, am i out of it! Although i've heard of the Caine mutiny, i haven't read the book or seen the movie!

I was also going to add the Cruel Sea as a suggestion, please be a luv and read it soon ..."

Yes, I intend to look for Cruel Sea my next jaunt down to the library. I'm only a half a step ahead of you on The Caine Mutiny. I was looking for something else and saw a lurid yellow rebound at the library with those soft pages from so many fingers flipping pages, one of those impulsive decisions that turned out well. I sometimes feel like these old library books are national treasures showing "the love" of all those readings.

Thanks for noticing the extra work. I sometimes feel like I'm fighting a " sea battle" myself pulling all the information I wish to convey together into something coherent and yet not epic in length.

Jeffrey wrote: "I sometimes feel like I'm fighting a " sea battle" myself pulling all the information I wish to convey together into something coherent and yet not epic in length."

Yes, it's strangely difficult to keep reviews short when you've done some 'extra work' on it.

I still need to learn how to cull/contract my content effectively. I understand 100% why authors need to have editors who can be brutal enough to cut chunks out of their precious little babies. It's hard enough to do it with reviews; - what a murderous task when you have to cut chunks out of your own fiction.

Yes indeed, Herman Wouk is still with us at 97, and has a new novel, THE LAWGIVER, which will be released about two weeks from now. I've already read it and enjoyed it very much - it was surprisingly cutting-edge! Back in the mid-90s I wrote to Herman Wouk, as well as to Norman Mailer, Joseph Heller, and Saul Bellow, and they graciously allowed me to send books to be signed. Wouk is now the only one left of that generation of writers for whom WWII was a major influence in their lives and on their writing, and who dominated American Fiction for decades thereafter.

Philip wrote: "Yes indeed, Herman Wouk is still with us at 97, and has a new novel, THE LAWGIVER, which will be released about two weeks from now. I've already read it and enjoyed it very much - it was surprisin..."
I still do that with writers. Recently Nicholas Basbanes was more than generous signing a box full of books for me and sending along some unexpected ephemeral when he returned the books to me. I'm sure I would be very envious of your book collection. I just ordered a first of Youngblood Hawke and can't wait to dig in. A few days ago I started The Young Lions another writer from that era I've never read. Thanks for commenting.

I read YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE in the early 1970s, enjoyed it very much. Had Thomas Wolfe, Aline Bernstein and Maxwell E. Perkins been still alive, I doubt he'd have written it, or at least made an attempt to blur their identities more. And like many girls who grew up in the late 1950s and the 1960s, my older sister had a copy of MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR - that's probably where I first encountered Wouk's name.

Mr. Jeffrey,

Any chance I might bribe you into writing my thesis? Your review is so thorough, I'm sure you'll do just as outstanding a job on my thesis!

Please? I throw in some homemade cookies!!!

Julie wrote: "Mr. Jeffrey,

Any chance I might bribe you into writing my thesis? Your review is so thorough, I'm sure you'll do just as outstanding a job on my thesis!

Please? I throw in some homemade cook..."

Now your talking...homemade cookies might just swing this deal. haha Thank you for the high praise. I'm sure your thesis is in very capable hands. Out of curiosity what is the topic?

If you like WW2 novels I wrote a review of Young Lions by Irwin Shaw recently that ties in with this book simply because it is also considered one of the four great WW2 novels. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Jeff:

What a great review and remember the book, oh so many years ago.

I like B/W photos a lot so glad they're included. Check out the pants on May! I'm fond of sidebars so the info on May (Donna) or Donna (May) was interesting as was the printing history.

And ask for milk with that cookie offer from Julie! I'm curious too, the topic. Julie? Inquiring minds want to know...

Joyce wrote: "Terrific review, as always. In terms of Donna, rather than find it creepy, I always felt it was somewhat sad. She never went very far. However, much as I liked this book, and my (nostalgic) favori..."

Thanks Joyce. I knew you would get a kick out of it. I just picked up a copy of Youngblood Hawke and it will be my next Wouk. I would bet I will have the same problems with his politics as well with his later books.

Cathy wrote: "Jeff:

What a great review and remember the book, oh so many years ago.

I like B/W photos a lot so glad they're included. Check out the pants on May! I'm fond of sidebars so the info on May ..."

I adore old photographs. I have a lot of old ones of my relatives and whenever I see old b&W pics in antique stores I have to resist buying them. I had a story in mind at one time to write about a guy that built a whole family history out of pictures found in flea markets and yard sales.

I absolutely love Donna's stripped pants.

Jeffrey, nicely done. I highly recommend the following WWII novels: The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw; The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer; and Arch of Triumph, A Time to Love, A Time to Die, both by Erich Maria Remarque. Enjoy.

Kerr wrote: "Jeffrey, nicely done. I highly recommend the following WWII novels: The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw; The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer; and Arch of Triumph, A Time to Love, A Time to Die, both by Er..."

Thanks Kerr I will definitely read those recommendations.

Jeffrey, re Wouk's still being alive, I had a similar reaction upon finding the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti is still with us. Wouk, though, is still writing novels. I read one of the more recent ones, although it wasn't up to his former standards. I think he has another one on the way!

Jan wrote: "Jeffrey, re Wouk's still being alive, I had a similar reaction upon finding the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti is still with us. Wouk, though, is still writing novels. I read one of the more recent one..."

I used to be in City Lights Bookstore a lot. I met Ferlinghetti a couple of times. What a legend. I don't think any of us expect him to write up to his old standards, but the fact that Wouk is still writing is remarkable.

Jeffrey wrote: "...I used to be in City Lights Bookstore a lot. I met Ferlinghetti a couple of times. What a legend. I don't think any of us expect him to write up to his old standards, but the fact that Wouk is still writing is remarkable."

Of course I didn't have the advantage of meeting Ferlinghetti. For me he represented somewhere long, long ago and far, far away, so, now, a living icon.

In terms of reading WWII or post-WWII movies and Wouk, I can recommendThe Winds of War and its sequel, War and Remembrance, by Wouk. I loved them! As with The Caine Mutiny, they were filmed, but in this case, two mini-series, in '83 and '88, respectively. ...Back when I was still watching TV. ...A phenomenon; inspired me to read the books.

Wouk is brilliant and luckily for us managed to celebrate his 100th birthday and is still writting... He deserves to be more reprinted worldwide...

havnt read it.

Tea wrote: "Wouk is brilliant and luckily for us managed to celebrate his 100th birthday and is still writting... He deserves to be more reprinted worldwide..."

I've got so many to read. Youngblood Hawke will be the next one for me.

Jeffrey wrote: "Tea wrote: "Wouk is brilliant and luckily for us managed to celebrate his 100th birthday and is still writting... He deserves to be more reprinted worldwide..."

I've got so many to read. [book:You..." You have to read all of his books... :))) (And Leon Uris' books as well)... :))))

Tea wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Tea wrote: "Wouk is brilliant and luckily for us managed to celebrate his 100th birthday and is still writting... He deserves to be more reprinted worldwide..."

I've got so many to..."

Uris is also on my list. I've got Topaz. I've been wanting to read it ever since I saw the Hitchcock film.

Jeffrey wrote: "Tea wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Tea wrote: "Wouk is brilliant and luckily for us managed to celebrate his 100th birthday and is still writting... He deserves to be more reprinted worldwide..."

I've go..." Trinity and Exodus should be among the first ones to be read...

Tea wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Tea wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Tea wrote: "Wouk is brilliant and luckily for us managed to celebrate his 100th birthday and is still writting... He deserves to be more reprinted worldw..."

Of course they should and I will read them in due course. I have Topaz in my hands though...a quick read. You know what they say about the bird in the hand. :-) My purpose is because of the Hitchcock connection I can do a duel review of movie and book.

:)

We see Willie Keith evolve from a love sick, immature, self-centered jerk into a real man. He owes the war. Without the war I'm not sure that Willie Keith would have ever become a man worth occupying space on the planet.

They say that war brings out the best and the worst out of people. Good to know that the young man found his way. :) Thank you so much for another exceptional review. :)

The last paragraph confused me, can you please tell me the mystery behind it?

The paragraph was:
Torn paper was flying in the air over the victorious marchers; and now and then a scrap drifted down and brushed the face of the last captain of the Caine.

Excellent review, Jeffrey! I always learn so much from them. I love the extra research you do for your reviews. Thank you! How much research did you do before you read Caine Mutiny? I'm adding it to my TBR list. Would a general knowledge of history be enough before reading it?

Candace wrote: "Excellent review, Jeffrey! I always learn so much from them. I love the extra research you do for your reviews. Thank you! How much research did you do before you read Caine Mutiny? I'm adding it t..."

Thanks Candace! You'll enjoy the book regardless of how much you know about history. I just have the benefit of having read the right material to increase my enjoyment. I hope you have a great time reading this one.

Read "The Wall" by John Hersey. It is one of the greatest novels ever written and it has somehow slipped between the cracks. No matter, it is the story of a group of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Did you know that the actor who played the young ensign died in a plane crash when he was 25, Robert Francis.

Allen wrote: "Read "The Wall" by John Hersey. It is one of the greatest novels ever written and it has somehow slipped between the cracks. No matter, it is the story of a group of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto."

Definitely a book I need to read and review. Thanks for bringing it back to my attention Allen.

I didn't know about Robert Francis, so many people die too young.

Cant belive reviwe is 7 years ago!!!!!!!!!!

Deb McWhinney wrote: "Cant belive reviwe is 7 years ago!!!!!!!!!!"

Me either! Time flies.

What is a reviwe?

Clearly you weren't the only person astonished that Herman Wouk is (was) still alive - Stephen King wrote a short story with that exact title!